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Royal BVI Yacht Club gets new Commodore & new Instructor

The Royal BVI Yacht Club has welcomed a new Instructor to the ranks, James Gibson, who hails from Queensland, Australia. Photo: Provided
The Royal BVI Yacht Club prides itself as a busy sailing club with a thriving youth, racing and social calendar. Photo: RBVIYC
The Royal BVI Yacht Club prides itself as a busy sailing club with a thriving youth, racing and social calendar. Photo: RBVIYC
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - The 44th Royal BVI Yacht Club Annual General Meeting (AGM) took place on Tuesday February 21, 2017 with several members being re-elected and a new Commodore in place.

Attendees heard reports on the activities of the Club over the past year and thanks were given to all of the corporate partners, sponsors, members and volunteers who have supported the Club and the Youth Sailing Programme.

Commodore Todd Patterson, retiring after two years in the role, handed over the reins to Chris Haycraft. Giles Wood was elected as Vice-Commodore, with Clair Burke, Eddie Brockbank, Ron Gurney and Lisa Penn-Lettsome re-elected for another term.

Elected to the board for the first time was Tamara Allen who will take on the role of Social Captain. Tamara brings a wealth of experience and will be tasked with rejuvenating the Club's social scene and reinvigorating the membership, old and new.

RBVIYC Team

Commodore: Chris Haycraft
Vice-Commodore: Giles Wood
Treasurer: Clair Burke
Captain of Sailing: Edward Brockbank
Captain of Infrastructure: Ron Gurney
Social Captain: Tamara Allen
Member at Large: Lisa Penn-Lettsome
Secretary: Tamsin Rand

New Instructor on board

The Yacht Club also welcomed a new Instructor to the ranks, James Gibson, who hails from Queensland, Australia.

Gibson, has been working professionally as an instructor for over five years in roles that varied from beginner classes to advanced catamaran techniques.  He learned to sail on a Hobie 16 and raced competitively in Hobie 16, Taipan 4.9s and Hobie Tigers so brings a new multihull skill set to the team.

In recent years, he has worked in Greece, for the Royal Brunei Yacht Club in Borneo and in Melbourne, Australia.

According to the RBVIYC, “James brings a really fun and positive approach to the programme and is already teaching the kids some new sailing lingo...  Not only is he excited to be teaching sailing, his goal is also to enable the kids to gain confidence and essential experience in, on and around the water.”

Gibson will be the lead instructor for all beginner and intermediate classes, FunSail sessions, holiday camps and KATS.

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